Dive Trip Report to:
Florida's Beaches - Pompano
Purpose:
To Dive the Reefs off Pompano Beach!
Dive #1:
Sunday, 01-July, Morning Dive. My Dive #309
A. Dive Boat / Location:
Beach Dive / Pompano - just south of Pompano Pier!
B. Conditions:
Visibility: 30 - 40 ft (Yea- great vis for a beach dive)!!
Seas: Flat to 6 inches
Water Temp: 84. Starting to warm up, I used a skin and a shortie!
Skies: Sunny, Warm, Clear Blue Skies
Air Temp: high 80's
C. Dive Information:
Depth & Time:
Me: Genesis Nitrox Dive Computer -
17 ft for 24 min!
Air consumption:
Me: 3600 - 2000 lbs (120 cu ft]
Current: Mild to the North
Description:
We left Melbourne at 7:00 am, and after several stops to pick up divers and
pit's, we arrived at Pompano at the dive location at 9:40 am! As mentioned
in the other notes -
Beach dive in Pompano
- there are 4 parking spots at the beach entrance, but a lot of others just
across the street. $.25 get's ya 15 minutes - so bring lot's of quarters!!!
There is a washing shower, no potties (use the ocean) or places to change (use
the Van)! After a group picture (will be put up after all the pics are
developed), we broke into two dive groups. My group had two snorkelers and 4
divers.
Well, ya can't really believe the bottom time given above. We had one novice
beach diver (never beach dove before), one Experienced Diver (did the beach
dive last week) and two old time diehards! Out we went, kicking on our backs
to save air. One diver had a leaking 2nd stage and had to call the dive short.
We went out to the equal to the end of the fishing pier. There was a reef
line there. ScubaGirl headed out to find a better reef, but turned back prior
to crossing the ocean - couldn't find another reef line close in! There were
lot's of fish, some bugs, small rock formations. The snorkelers could see
everything. I helped the snorkelers to the bottom while sharing air - one made
it the other was toooo bouyant! Much of this dive was associated with getting
the snorkelers comfortable and helping the novice divers out - we had a lot of
ups and downs - and a short bottom time compared to a normal beach dive. The
entry and exit were very easy - flat beach, no waves and a gentle slope.
Dive #1:
Sunday, 01-July, Early Afernoon Dive. My Dive #310
A. Dive Boat / Location:
Beach Dive / Pompano - just south of Pompano Pier!
B. Conditions:
Visibility: 30 - 40 ft (Yea- great vis for a beach dive)!!
Seas: Flat to 6 inches
Water Temp: 84. Starting to warm up, I used a skin and a shortie!
Skies: Sunny, Warm, Clear Blue Skies
Air Temp: high 80's
C. Dive Information:
Depth & Time:
Me: Genesis Nitrox Dive Computer -
15 ft for 54 min!
Air consumption:
Me: 3600 - 1700 lbs (120 cu ft]
Current: Mild to the North
Description:
Well, after giving the training exercise, this dive was to explore the area.
We again headed out (same groups) to find the next reef line. We couldn't
find it. So, we headed South on the line equal to the fishing pier. This
time, after going south a ways, we did find some nice rock formations - 2 ft
high and 10 ft in dia formations. This lead to quite a few fish. ScubaGirl
saw a Manta Ray - yea, we all missed it. She said it was about 5 ft across and
started to swim away when she approached. Several others saw all kinds of fish
and spent the entire return trip looking them up in the fish books! We saw a
few bugs under some of the big rocks. Caribbean Crazy (a new member of the
group) seemed to have spend the entire 5 hours we were there in the water!
Lot's of fish, Great Vis (for a beach dive), good price (cost of gas and rum),
good weather, great company! Snorkel-Lady is starting to get hooked on this
sport (among others)!!
And here's some comments from one Team Member:
Wow! Yesterday was fantabulous!!!!!!
Couldn't ask for better conditions! Measure of a great dive day is how
salty the lips are & how long it takes for the "raccoon face" to disappear!
We saw a lot of variety of tropicals- I was surprised, being that it was so
close to shore. We missed ScubaGirl's sighting of the big Manta Ray, but were
treated by a visit from Mr. Barracuda. I was particularly impressed with
the colorful formation of sponges & coral on a reef line so relatively close
to shore. Great dive, great company, topped off with the traditional rum &
coke (or d. coke & limon for me ;) Whata great day!
Thanks, George! :)
Caribbean Crazy